Invaders Classic TPB [Possible Spoilers]

Includes Giant-Size Invaders 1, Invaders 1-9, and Marvel Premiere 29-30.

There's a double layer of nostalgia when you're reading the original Invaders title. First, because it takes place during World War II (the 1940s); second, because it was created during the 1970s. So to some extent it's really a 70s vision of the 40s.

The characters are, for the most part, genuine 1940s Timely comic book characters (Timely became Marvel in later years). The Invaders as first formed consist of Captain America and Bucky, the Human Torch and Toro, and the Submariner; the characters are WWII-era characters, but they were never formed into an official group at that time. Still, it's not a bad concept. And the book includes a storyline featuring the Liberty Legion, another retconned WWII group consisting of genuine WWII-era characters (Patriot, Miss America, the Thin Man, the Whizzer, Red Raven, the Blue Diamond, and Jack Frost), an extra treat for those of us with a fondness for the Golden Age.

When I first read The Invaders as a kid, back in the 70s, I didn't care much for Frank Robbins' art at first--it was so different from what I was used to--but I got used to it, and this time around I've developed a greater appreciation for it. He was actually an excellent choice for the title, his action-oriented style reminiscent in some ways of what I've seen in reprints of WWII-era comics. As far as I can tell he gets the details right. (Except for the hair. The Torch has longer hair than any 1940s gent would have worn, and Cap and Bucky's lush 70s hairdos would never have passed muster in the military. Still, artistic license, and it's the detail you most often see done wrong in movies and television as well--great costumes, totally modernized hairdos.) The writer is Roy Thomas, and you either like him or you don't, and I generally do, having been a Marvel fan throughout the 1970s.

I'm assuming that at least part of the reason for reprinting this title at this time has to do with Marvel's upcoming miniseries, The Twelve (which I am definitely on board for, thank you ver much!), featuring still more actual old-time Marvel heroes brought into the present day. That and the fact that the comic featured Captain America, who I'm guessing sells pretty well at present.

In any case, The Invaders is absolutely a fun book. A lot of action, a little drama. A slightly different take on some of the heroes we know and love--a younger, brasher, more hot-tempered Namor, a less experienced but still confident Captain America--as well as reintroductions to some heroes not seen other than in occasional flashbacks since the Golden Age (the Torch, Toro, Bucky).

Now, I'm a fan of Brubaker's vision of Cap and Bucky, including their war experience. It makes sense to me. This title has, obviously, a different take on some things (such as willingness to kill), but the basic characterizations aren't so different--Cap of course is Cap, calm, stable, the voice of reason, mature beyond his years. Bucky in The Invaders is confident, enthusiastic, less reckless than you'd think, has a temper (and not nearly Cap's self-control), and occasionally goes against Cap's advice, but also displays courage, loyalty, enthusiasm, and some surprisingly impressive leadership skills (at one point leading the Liberty Legion despite being younger than anyone else on the team).

Namor and the Torch are their Golden Age selves, which is to say quick to anger, quick to fight, and prone to battling each other if there aren't enough Nazis to go around. The Torch has his emo moments, which I don't recall seeing so much in the Golden Age reprints I've seen, but the Invaders Namor is Namor--perhaps a bit more impetuous and less haughty, but as arrogant and hot-tempered as ever. I'm always happy to see Namor, and he's consistently one of the high points of this title

Unlike the Golden Age stories featuring these characters, which took place primarily in the United States (spybusting, for the most part), the Invaders operated mostly in the European theater, and seem to have been based mainly in London. They also tend to feature fewer non-powered villains (everyday Nazis and spies) and more supervillainous foes--the Red Skull made his debut in the 40s but was a far more dangerous foe in this book. Along with 70s creations such as Master Man and Baron Blood, he kept the more modern reader interested; I imagine that spies and so forth were far more interesting bad guys during the 1940s.

We also see in this volume (and I hope to see more trades in the not too distant future) the introduction of retconned Golden-Ager Union Jack, as well as his daughter Jacqueline, soon to become the superheroine Spitfire, who we've all seen in recent issues of Captain America.

So, verdict? Excellent book, I definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in Golden Age characters, although keep in mind that the 70s sensibilities give the stories their own, somewhat different charm.